Typewriting machine



Dec. 1924- W F. K. DAVIS ET Al.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Nov. 23 1921 477 may Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

FRANK K. DAVIS AND CHARLES C. TAYLOR,

ASSIGNOBS TO UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER PORTION OF DELAWARE.

Application filed November To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatwe, FRANK K. DAVIS and CHARLES C. TAYLOR, both citizensof the United States, and residin in the city of Washington, District ofCo umbia, have invented certain new and useful Improve+ ments inTypewriting Machines, the following is a specification. I

The resent invention' relates to paperguides or typewriting machines;that is to say, to the guides variously designated as the paper-shelf,table, apron, etc., over which the work-sheets are inserted to printingposition, either top end first from the rear, of the rotary platen orbottom end first from the front 0 the platen; and over work-sheets haveline-feed movement around the platen.

In a front-strike machine, as for instance the Underwood, thepaper-guide, at its front upper edge, forms with the platen a mouththrough which a work-sheet may be inserted bottom end first; and theguide thence passes down around the platen to the rear thereof. .Thismuch of the guide is commonlytermed the apron, as distinguished from thelonger downwardly and forwardly inclined part at therear of the platen,usually designated as the paper-shelf or table. The apron portion of theguide is generally so close to the platen-that, for easy and convenientinsertion of considerable thicknesses of paper, it should be thrown fromthe platen with the feed or pressure rolls. To facilitate frontinsertion of work-sheets, bottom end first, an additional plate forguidin the work-sheets down to the front upper e ge of the apron iscommonly employed; this plate being preferably so set as to be forwardof and out of registry with the apron except when the latter is thrownoff the platen. The throw of the apron, therefore, may have theadditional purpose of bringing the same into alignment or registry, withthe front guide, for front insertion, of work-sheets.

Heretofore the apron and the rear shelf or table have ordinarily been inone piece, thus necessitating tire paper-table in the operation ofthrowing the apron off the platen. There may be no purpose for so movingthe rear papershelf. To moveit forward may-merely constrict the splace.for the work-sheets bee platen. Any such movetween it and t of whichwhich the the movement of the enor wasnmoron; nrs'rmc'r or continue,company, ormzw Yomr; n. Y., A con.-

rrrnwnrrmo MACHINE.

23, 1921. Serial 1W0. 517,158. ,I

ment of the shelf calls for greater effort and stronger connectionsthanwould be required for more movement of the apron. Furthermore, theshelves frequently now have fo1d able extensions andvarious connectionson the carriage or platen-frame which should preferably not be madesubject to movement with the apron in the throw-off operation.Nevertheless, if the apron is to be moved independently of the shelf ortable,

provision should be made for a continuity of the the W0 -sheets wheninserted, either from the front or rear, .may 'pass from one to theother of these guiding elements.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of means whereby theapron may be thrown from the platen to a work-sheet inserting positi'onindependently of the pa;

per-shelf or table. f 3

Other features of the invention are the provision of means foreffectingatranslatory, substantially rectilinear, movement of theapronto sheet-inserting position, independently of the paper-shelf; and ofmeans for maintaining, in the sheet-inserting sition, an alignment orregistration, an in effect, continuity, of the guide surfaces of theapron and paper-shelf,so that the worksheets, in the operation ofinserting the same, either from the front-or the rear, pass easilyaround the platen to printing position.

A feature of the invention is the means by which the apron is mountedfor movement, relatively to the paper-shelf or table, into alignment orregistration with the front guide, for front end first.

Another feature of theinvention is the connection of the apron to thefeed-roll throw-off mechanism, whereby operation. of the. latter effectsthe movement of the apron to the sheet-inserting position in "a simpleand efficient manner; and of means, acting guiding the apron to assurethe proper translatory movement thereof.

Other features and advantages will here inafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in cross-sectional sideide surfaces of the two; so that,

insertion of sheets, bottom.

in conjunction with such connection, for

elevation, on the line l 1 of Figure 3, showing the parts in normal orprintlng position. I I 1.1

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, except that the parts are shownin the sheetinserting position.

Figure 3 is a front view, partly broken,

of the mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The platen 10 is mounted for rotary movement on axle 11, having bearingsin the end 1 plates 12 of the platen-frame. The end plates 12 of the-platen-frame are also con by a cross-piece or bar 13. Se-

nected cured to the bar 13, by means of screws 14, are brackets 15,having loops 16 in which a rod 17 is supported. papertable or shelf 18has curls or tongues 19 on the forward edge thereof to embrace the rod17 and provide a pivotal connection of the table to the rod. A combinedpaperguide and apron 21 extends down and around the platen fromthe frontto the rear thereof, and at the rear edge thereof overlies the bar 13and is overlapped by the forward edge of the paper-table 18; the rear ofthe apron being recessed at 20 for passa e therethrough of the tongues19 of the ta le. The recesses 20 are elongated to permit of movement ofthe apron relatively to the table. In the Figure 2, or. sheet-inserting, position of the apron and guide 21, the forward edge 22 thereofregisters or is in alignment with the lower forward edge of apaper-guide 23 which is used in front-insertion of sheets.

The apron 21 is recessed at 24 to permit of engagement of the feed orpressure rolls 25 with the platen. These feed-rolls are mounted on a rod26, supported on arms 27. The support and means for shifting thepressure-rolls to and from the platen are substantially as shown inUnited States Letters Patent to W. F. Helmond, No.1.058,672, grantedApril 8, 1913, and, briefly, are as follows: Thepressure-roll-release-lever 28 is mounted on a stub rock-shaft 29,supported on the platen-frame and carrying an arm 30, to which ispivotally connected one end of a link 31, the other endof which link ispivotally connected at 32 to an arm 33, fast to a cam-shaft 34, brackets35, fast to a rod 38, in turn fast to the platen-frame. The cams on theshaft 34 are formed by grooves or flats 36 therein at the points where apair of feed-roll-re lease-levers 37 engage the cam-shaft. In

the normal or, writing position of the feedrolls, shown in Figure 1, thereleasele'vers 37 are shown as seated on the flats 36 in the cam-shaft,whereas, in the Figure 2 position of the parts, the release-levers 37are shown as riding upon the periphery of the cam-shaft.

In order that the release-levers 37 may actuate the levers 27, whichsupport the feed-rolls, the levers 27 are pivoted at an intermediatepoint on the rod 38, so as to mounted to rock in have arms 39 projectingrearward from the rod 38; on which arms 39 are pins 40. The pins 40overlie and are adapted to be engaged by the release-levers 37, so thatthe latter, when swung from Figure 1 to F igure 2 position. cause thearms 39 to be swung up, and the levers 27 thusto be rocked in suchdirection as to lower the feed-rolls from the platen. The levers 37 arepivoted at 41 to brackets 42, fast to the rod 38.

The feed-roll-shifting mechanism is held in normal position, andreturned to normal position, by coil-springs 43, and, for this purpose,the springs 43 bear at one end upon ears 44, oifset from the arms 39 oflevers 27, and at their other ends bear against lugs or ears 55 onbrackets 56, also fast to the rod 38. The feed-roll throw-ofi' operationcauses the springs 43 to be compressed; and, in expanding, the springsreturn the parts to normal position. Screws 45, threaded in the ears 44,may be provided for adjustment of the tension of the springs 43.

The manner in which the apron or guide 21 issupported and shifted withrespect to the platen, independentl of the paper-shelf 18, is asfollows: Near its rear upper edge, the apron 21 is'supported on arms 46,pivotally mounted on a cross-rod 47, carried by the platen-frame. Thearms 46 are connected to the apron 21 by the pins '48,which turn inyokes or bearing-pieces 49 secured to the apron. The axes 47 and 48 areso located that the direction of movement of the apron by the arms 46,is substantially at right angles to the arms 46, so that'thc rear of theapron moves insubstantially the plane in which it normally lies. Arms50, which form bell-crank-levers with the arms 46, have each attachedthereto one end of a sp -ring 51, the other end of which is se arerocked from Figure 1 to Figure 2 posi tio-n, the levers 27 draw withthem the apron 21-against the tension of the springs 51; the apron beingguided at its rear, during this motion, by the arms 46. Inthisoperation, the pins 53, which connect the apron to the levers 27,move in a'direction substantially parallel tothe rear portion of theapron. In this manner, a translatory,

substantially rectilinear movement of the apron, is effected.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions-of the improvements may be used without others. Having thusdescribed our invention, we claim:

1. Ina front-strike typewriting machine,

a rotary platen, a platen-carriage, a pa erguide or apron on thecarriage exten ing around under and to the front ofthe platen, andmovable between a normal Writing position snugly adjacent the platen anda sheet front-insertion position with its forward extremity remote fromthe platen, a paper-table at the rear of the laten, interlaced fingerson the apron an paper-table to form with the apron and-table anuninterrupted guide-surface which will not snag sheets insertedbottom-end first at the front of the platen between the platen and theapron, when the latter is in its sheet-inserting position, and means foreffecting translatory movement of the apron relative to the paper-tableand substantially parallel thereto between the normal andsheet-inserting positions of the apron. p

2. In a front-strike typewriting machine, a rotary platen; aplaten-carriage; a papertable at the rear'of the platen; a paperguide orapron on. the platen-carnage, forming a continuation of the paper-tableunder and to the front of the platen; means for effecting a translatoryforward movement of the apron away from the platen, independently of thepaper-table, to provide a wide entrance opening between the apron andthe front of the platen for front insertion of work-sheets; means formaintaining the continuity of the apron and paper-table sur face toavoid snagging work-sheets inserted at the front of the platen,comprising interdigitally arranged projections on the paper-table andapron, and means for guiding the apron in a substantially rectilinearcourse in its translatory movement, said guiding means comprising an armdisposed at substantially a right angle to the apron at the rear of theplaten and pivotally connected at one point to the platen-frame and atanother point to the apron adjacent its confluence with the paper-table.

3. In a front-strike typewriting machine, a rotary laten; aplaten-carriage, a papertable at tl fe rear of the platen; a paper-guideor apron on the platen-carriage, formin a continuation of thepaper-table under an to the front of the platen; means for effecting atranslatory forward movement of the apron away from the platen,independently of the paper-table, to provide a wide entrance opening forinsertion of work-sheets at the front of the platen; means for guidingthe apron in a substantially rectilinear course in its translatorymovement substantially parallel to the paper-table, to maintain thecontinuity of the table and apron, said guiding means comprising an armpivoted on the platen-frame pivotally connected to the apron; and asprin acting on the guiding arm, and through apron, for urging the apronto normal position.

4, In a front-strike typewriting machine, arotary platen a'platen-carriage a paper table'at the rear of the platen;'a paperguide orapron on the platen-carnage, forming a continuation of the paper-tableunder and to the front of the platen; means connected to the apronforward of the axis of the platen for effecting a translatory forwardmovement of the apron away from the platen, independently of thepaper-table, for front insertion of work-sheets; and means for guidingthe apron in a substantially rectilinear course in its translatorymovement; said guidin arm disposed at sugstantially a right angle to theapron at the rear of the platen andpivotally connected at one point tothe platen-frame and at another point to the apron.

means comprislng an 5. In a front-strike typewriting machine,

a rotary platen; a platen-carnage; a papertable, inclined downward andforward, at the rear of the platen; an apron passing around underneaththe platen from the front thereof and inclined upward and rearwardbehind the platen to the forward lower part of the paper-table; andmeans for moving the apron from the platen, in the eneral direction ofthe aprons rearward inc ine, to provide a wide, flaring, front entranceopening between the apron and the front of the platen for frontinsertion of work-sheets.

6. In a front-strike typewriting machine, a rotary platen; aplaten-carriage; a papertable, inclined downward and forward, at therear of the platen; an apron passing around underneath the platen fromthe front thereof and inclined upward and rearward behind the platen tothe forward lower part of the paper-table; and means for moving theapron from the platen, in the general direction of the aprons rearwardincline, to provide a wide, flaring, front entrance opening between theapron and the front of the platen for front insertion of work-sheets,said apron-moving means comprising a moving arm pivotally connected tothe forward part of the apron and a guiding device engaging the rearwardpart of the apron.

7. In a front-strike typewriting machine, a rotary platen; aplaten-carriage; a papertable, inclined downward and forward, at therear of the laten; an apron passing around underneatli the platen fromthe front thereof and inclined upward and rearward behind the platento'the forward lower part of the paper-table; means for. pivotallysupporting the apron from the platen-carriage,

the latter, on the Y comprising arms pivotally connecting with epron andthe front of the platen for front the apron, one forward of the other,and insertion of Work-sheets. disposed substantially at right angles tothe direction of rearward incline of the apron; FRANK K. DAVIS. 5 andmeans for moving the apron forward CHARLES C. TAYLOR.

from the platen, in the general direction of Witnesses:

the aprons rearward incline, to provide a C. H. WALLEIGH,

wide, flaring entrance opening between the GEORGE H. WARD.

